Runaways Box Set

Chapter 5-1

Chapter 5The next two weeks passed much as the first day had, with the group spending most of their time along the mall, spanging. They stayed as late as possible before the cops showed up in force to make certain none of the homeless were planning on sleeping anywhere in the area.

“It’s against the law now,” Rudy said when Kel asked. “Has been for the last couple of years down here. So everyone scatters. Some along the creek, others to shelters if there’s room, or anywhere else that they can find a safe place.”

“Define safe.” Snap shook his head. “You two are lucky you hooked up with us. We really do have a good spot where we’re rarely bothered.”

“And then only by someone else looking for a place to crash, like I told you the other morning,” Rudy added.

It was late one Saturday night when things got rough. The group had made out well, all things considered, and was heading to the bus stop on the next street over from the mall. Just before they got to the corner three punks stepped out of a darkened doorway.

“Hey, cutie,” one said, coming up to Josie. “Been watching you. Why don’t you upgrade to some real men.”

“Like you?” she sneered, moving close to Snap. “I got one already.”

The guy looked Snap over with disdain. “Looks like he slept in his clothes and hasn’t had a bath in a week. Same with the others.” He reached for Josie. “Come on, we’ll show you a good time.”

Snap grabbed her, pulling her away. Rudy moved between them and the man. “You might want to rethink your plans,” he growled.

“You gonna make us?” the guy spat out.

Rudy’s grin was feral as he replied, “Yeah, if you got the balls to meet us in the alley.” He thumbed toward the entrance.

Terry and Kel watched in dismay, and when Snap and Josie took off for the alley, they followed. Rudy was right on their heels with the punks a few feet behind.

The second he was in the relative darkness of the alley, Terry swung around, searching for anything that would work as a weapon.

“Here,” Snap called out, tossing him a short length of pipe.

Rudy joined them, holding a pipe of his own. “Kel, take Josie behind the nearest dumpster.”

Kel nodded and the two of them practically dove behind one just as the punks entered the alley.

“Come on,” Rudy said, beckoning to the young men with one hand. His other hand was behind his back, holding the pipe. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”

The one who had accosted Josie came forward, holding up his fisted hands. He took a swing at Rudy while the other two headed respectively toward Snap and Terry. Rudy swung his pipe, catching his attacker hard on his upper arm.

Snap, weaponless, used his fists and feet, taking a couple of punches while ducking a hard shot to his jaw as he landed a punch of his own to the guy’s gut and then kicked his leg. When the guy doubled over, Snap brought his knee up, connecting with his chin, and the punk went down.

Terry had never been in a street fight before, so he hesitated a moment too long before trying to hit his assailant with the pipe. The guy grabbed the other end, using it to pull Terry to him. Realizing what would happen next, Terry let go but not in time to avoid a punch to the side of his head. Dazed, he let instinct take over, grabbing the guy before he could swing again. Then he head-butted him and heard something crack. He saw red, literally, when blood from the punk’s nose landed on his shirt and Terry’s. Bringing his knee up, Terry caught the guy hard in the groin and he went down, howling in pain.

Terry turned to see Rudy was putting the pipe to good use, landing blows to his attacker’s arms then poking him hard in the chest and gut before the guy could defend himself. “Had enough?” Rudy asked, readying himself for another swing.

“Bastard,” the punk gasped out. That earned him a fist to his mouth and Rudy telling him to remember there was a lady present and to watch his language.

With their attackers down and pretty much out, Rudy suggested to his companions that they should get the hell away from there before the cops showed up. The others were more than ready and they raced to the far end of the alley.

As soon as they got to the sidewalk, Rudy pointed to the alley across the street and they sped down it and two more before deciding it was safe to stop. Josie immediately began checking Snap out to be certain he hadn’t been hurt

Rudy and Kel descended on Terry with the same intention written on both their faces.

“Bloody but unbowed?” Rudy asked with a trace of a smile.

“Where did he get you?” Kel asked at the same time, obviously looking for the source of the blood staining Terry’s shirt.

“That’s his,” Terry panted with a slight grin. “All I ended up with is the beginnings of a bad headache. Using my head worked, but damn…”

“You did good,” Rudy said, patting Terry’s shoulder. “We all did, all things considered.”

“Does this happen often,” Terry asked. “And where did the pipes come from?”

“We carry them, just in case. I guess we should get you and Kel some too. As for your other question, it doesn’t happen often and usually when it does it’s other kids wanting money, or freaks who get off on beating up the homeless.”

Kel hissed in a dismayed breath. “That sucks.”

“No s**t,” Rudy agreed, “but it’s part of the life we live. Also one of the reasons Snap and Josie and I don’t go into alleys if we can help it. They can be deathtraps at times.”

“Now you tell us,” Terry muttered.

“Better late than never?” Rudy tapped Terry’s chest. “I hope you have a clean shirt in your pack. No bus driver will let you on looking like that.”

“I do.” Terry realized he was still carrying it despite the fight. “Could have used this as a weapon,” he said, taking it off to dig out a shirt.

“And run the risk of losing it.”

“Yeah, I guess there is that.”

After putting on a relatively clean shirt over the one he was wearing, the trio went to gather up Snap and Josie and headed to the bus stop and home.

* * * *

“How are you doing?” Rudy asked Terry the morning after the fight.

They were alone in the squat, since at Josie’s insistence she, Snap, and Kel had gathered up all the dirty clothes and taken off for the laundromat.

“I’ve been better,” Terry admitted. “But I’ve been a hell of a lot worse too so it’s all relative.”

“Your head still ache?”

“No. My arms and shoulders though…” He thought it was better not to mention his legs did too, from all the running.

Rudy nodded, going behind the sofa where Terry was sitting. “Lean forward.”

Terry did, groaning when Rudy began massaging his shoulders.

“Am I hurting you?” Rudy asked, concern lacing his voice.

“God no! That feels great.”

“Good. I never know for sure.”

Terry turned his head to look up at him. “You do this often?”

“Not really. Just sometimes when we’ve had a long day I do Snap.” He laughed. “Okay, that didn’t come out right. I give him a massage while he takes care of Josie.”

Terry chuckled. “That could be taken two ways and one of them brings up images I’m not sure I want.”

“Good point.” Rudy kept on, carefully working on Terry’s tightly knotted muscles. When Rudy was finished, Terry sighed, half in relief because he felt better, half with regret that Rudy had stopped. It had been a long time since anyone other than Kel had touched him in a…he supposed a personal way. With Kel it had been to clean him up after a beating, or to give him a quick hug when something good happened, the way brothers do.

Terry was surprised when Rudy came around to sit beside him. At least until Rudy said, “Give me your arm.”

Grinning a bit, Terry replied, “I rather like it where it is.”

Rudy just shook his head. “You know what I mean.” When Terry stretched out his arm, Rudy went to work, starting at his shoulder and moving down. Terry rested his head on the back of the sofa, savoring the feeling of Rudy’s hands on him. Despite the reason behind it, it was almost sensual. When Rudy finished, he moved to the other side, chuckling when Terry immediately offered his other arm without even opening his eyes. “You like this, don’t you?”

“You better believe it.” Terry frowned in thought. “You know, I don’t think anyone’s ever done this to me before. In fact I know they haven’t.”

“Damn, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“I do now,” Terry replied with a smile. “If I had the money, I’d hire you as my personal…umm…masseuse?”

“I think that would be masseur. And you wouldn’t have to hire me. I’m quite willing to do it for free.”

Terry’s eyes popped open with surprise. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” Rudy smiled, saying, “Okay, lay face down on the sofa. Or better yet on the floor.”

“Umm, why?”

“I’m betting your legs feel as bad as your shoulders did, from our being chased last night.”

Terry resisted gulping at the idea Rudy was going to massage his legs. That did not however stop him from doing as Rudy said. He rested his head on his folded arms, tensing when he felt Rudy’s hands on his thighs. This was getting way more personal than he thought he could handle.

“Relax,” Rudy said softly. “I’m not going to do anything more than give your legs a rub down.”

“I know.” Terry wondered when he said that if he sounded as needy for something more as he felt. I’m being…stupid. He’s just a nice guy who’s trying to make me feel better after what happened last night. Physically. I mean…easing aching muscles since…damn. The feel of Rudy’s hands on the backs of his legs was erotic. Stop he cautioned himself. Pretend it’s Josie, or some girl I went to school with. Easier said than done. He almost sighed with relief when Rudy’s hands moved lower, rubbing his calves. He finally began to calm down.

Then Rudy blew it when he said, “This would have been better if I’d had you take off your jeans. Or not.”

“Yeah, umm…” Terry managed to get out.

Rudy leaned forward, his hands beside Terry’s shoulders. “Turned you on, didn’t it. Or at least I think it did. It sure did something to me. So…” He kissed the nape of Terry’s neck then got up. “Where the hell is a cold shower when a guy needs one?”

They both heard the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door at the same moment, then a series of knocks.

“That worked just as well,” Terry muttered, rolling over and sitting up.

“Big time,” Rudy agreed as he went to lift the bar off the door and let Josie and the guys in.

Snap looked at them as he came in and his lips lifted in a knowing grin. “Did we interrupt something?”

“Nope,” Rudy replied quickly.

“Not at all,” Terry agreed, trying not to blush. “We were just…He was just…”

“Giving him a massage, but we’re done.”

Kel eyed his brother, apparently resisting stating the obvious when his gaze went to Terry’s crotch momentarily. “We better get these clothes folded,” he muttered, dumping out the bag he was carrying on the sofa.

“Why didn’t you do that there?” Rudy asked.

“Two cops came in,” Josie said. “They didn’t do anything but check out everyone then leave again. Maybe something happened in the area and they were looking for who did it but we decided we’d better get out of there in case they came back.”

“Good idea.” Terry shot a worried look at Kel. “Did they seem interested in you?”

“No more than anyone else. I was taking stuff out of the dryer so I made that the reason to keep my head down. Like Josie said, they just looked at the people there and took off again.”

“Okay. Still…”

“Ter, look at him,” Rudy said. “Even if your dad has the cops searching for you, and that’s unlikely, do you think they’d have recognized Kel?”

Terry had to admit that was true. Kel’s hair was much longer than it had been when they left home. “He doesn’t look like the well-dressed guy with the stylish haircut all the girls at school wanted to ruffle just to get his goat,” he said.